Matt Leinart: Oakland Raiders Sign Former Heisman Trophy Winner at QB

According to a press release from the Oakland Raiders, the Raiders have signed former first-round pick and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. Terms of the deal were not announced. 

The Santa Ana, Calif., native played the past two seasons with the Houston Texans, seeing action in two games with one start last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Prior to joining the Texans, he played in 29 games with 17 starts in four seasons with the Cardinals. In his rookie season, Leinart started 11 games and completed 214-of-377 passes for 2,547 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He was cut by the Texans in March after breaking his collarbone during a game. He was the backup to Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub last season, but ended the season on injured reserve with a broken collarbone.

Leinart looks to be a strong favorite to be the backup to Carson Palmer on the Raiders depth chart. Coincidentally, Palmer is also a former Heisman Trophy winner, and Leinart spent two years behind Palmer as USC teammates.

The Raiders brought in Leinart for a tryout last week, and finally agreed to terms with him on Tuesday.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie likes "the fact [that] he's an experienced quarterback." 

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